Adjustable car-step



. (NdMddeL) v I h 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. W. LE MERING & H. PICKARD.

ADJUSTABLE GAR STEP.

*No. 576.133. Patented Peb.2 ,189'71 'lIIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIIII/IIII ,r vjfezp' fidqrd my? ail:

m: cams PETERS co. PHOTO-l mm WASNINGYON, u. c.

v -2 Shets-Shefl-Qf H. W. LEMERINGKU .H..PIOKARD.

(No Model.)

ADJUSTABLE GAR STEP.

No. 576,133. Patnted eb; 2, 1897 anger? cams Risks co, PHOT UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY LEMERING AND HENRY PIOKARD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. Q

ADJUSTABLE CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,133, dated February2, 1897.

Application filed April 20, 1896. Serial No. 588,354. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY W. LEMERING and HENRY PIOKARD, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Adjustable Car-Steps, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in adj ustablecar-steps, and has for its object to overcome the disadvantages whichhave heretofore been experienced by persons leaving a train atlocalities where a platform is not provided of such height as to come inproper relative position to the lower step to permit a person to passthereon without undue exertion.

With these ends in view our invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecifically designated by the claims.

' In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may under stand how to make and use the same, we willdescribe its construction and operation in de tail, referring by numberto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which- Figure 1 is a cross-section of the platform of a car, showingour improved adjustable step connected to the lower step of each pairand illustrating one method of operating the same; Fig. 2, a plan viewof the two adjustable steps and their connections removed from theordinary steps of the car, the side bearings of one of the adjustablesteps being in section; Fig. 8, a detailed section of the lower portionof the steps similar to Fig. 1, but showing the adjustable stepsdistended; Fig. 4, an enlarged view of a portion of the platform of acar, showing a modified form of operating the adjustable steps, whichcontemplates the use of an air-cylinder in connection with the air-braketrain-pipe; Fig. 5, a detailed perspective of a modified form ofconnection for the adjustable step.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 1 represents the platform of a car,having leading t-herefrom two flights of steps 2, and to the under sideof the bottom step of each flight is secured the grooved bars 3, inwhich the slides nates in a handhold 12 upon theupper side 1 of theplatform, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

13 is a lever secured to the crank-shaft about midway thereof andextending upon either side, so as to form arms to which theconnecting-rods 14 are pivoted, their opposite ends being pivoted at 15to the brackets 5. By this arrangement it will be seen that to force theadjustable steps forward into the proper relative position to thestationary flights of steps it is only necessary to draw upward upon therod 11, when the crankshaft willbe rotated, thereby forcing the stepsoutward through the connecting-rods '14 to the position shown in Fig. 3,and when it is necessary to retract the adjustable steps to the positionshown in Fig. l the reverse movement of the rod 11 is brought about bypushing downward thereon. In practice this enables the stationary stepsto terminate at a point high enough from the road-bed and sufficientlywithin the width of the car to offer no obstruction to the passage ofsaid car in close proximity to buildings or other structures along theline, and yet when it is necessary for the disembarkment of passengersthe adjustable step may be brought into position so as to render theexertion of passing from the platform of a car to the platform of thestation, or even in alighting upon the ground where there is nostation-platform, less difficult. This also obviates the necessity of atrain-attendant having to place a box or stand, as is now the case, forthe passengers to use in descending the steps, thus avoiding accidents,which now occur by the overturning of said stands.

Should it be found necessary to lock the extended steps in theirdistended position, this IOO ters with respect to the connecting-rods14, as will be readily understood; or this same result may be broughtabout by lugs 16, formed in the rod 11, adapted to engage with a lug 17,formed upon one wall of the slot through which the rod passes, and anysuitable spring 18 may be provided for holding the notches in engagementwith the lug.

Should it be found desirable, the movements of the adjustable steps maybe under control of pneumatic mechanism, as shown in Fig. 4:, whichconsists of a cylinder 20, with which is connected the air-braketrain-pipe 21 by the "branch pipe 22, in which is located acontrolling-valve 23, havin g a suit-able handle 24 for manipulation.Within this cylinder is located a piston of ordinary construction,adapted. to actuate the piston-rod 25, the latter being connected to thecrank 10 or other suitable mechanism for bringing about the movements ofthe adjustable steps. When this arrangement is used, it is onlynecessary to properly move the valve 23, when the adj ustable steps willbe either distended or retracted, as before described.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 contemplates the using of parallel rods26, adapted to be secured to the under side of the bottom step of eachpair by screws or bolts passed through the feet 27, in which case thebrackets 28 are provided with lugs 29, having holes therethrough forpassage over the rods. This construction is somewhat cheaper and, undersome circumstances, more efficient than the one above described.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new anduseful is 1. The herein-described combination with the stationary stepsof a car, guide-bars consisting of slotted rods extending from one setof steps to the other, brackets slidable in the slots thereof, a step on.each bracket and means for operating the brackets as and for thepurpose described.

2. The herein-described combination with the stationary steps of a car,guide-bars secured to the under side of the bottom step of each pair,brackets guided by said bars so as to slide to and fro, a step supportedby each of said brackets, a crank-shaft journaled in said bars, a leversecured thereon, rods 14 connecting said brackets and lever, a crank 10carried by said shaft, and a suitable rod for operating said shaft tobring about the movements of the adjustable steps in unison,substantially as shown and for the purposes set forth.

3. Tl1e hereindescribed combination with the stationary steps of a car,guide-bars consisting of slotted rods extending from one set of steps tothe other, brackets slidable in the slots thereof, a step supported byeach of said brackets, a crank-shaft j o u rn aled in said bars, a leversecured thereon, rods connecting the brackets and lever, a crank carriedby said shaft, a hand-rod connected to the crank and extending above theplatform, lugs on the rods, a plate on the platform having walls toengage said lugs and means for pressing said lugs into engagement withthe plate as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto affixed our signatures in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY W. LEMER ING. HENRY PICKARD.

\Vitnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, MARK BUFORD.

